The National Solar Mission is a major initiative of the Government of India and State
Governments to promote ecologically sustainable growth while addressing India’s
energy security challenge. It will also constitute a major contribution by India to the
global effort to meet the challenges of climate change.
In launching India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change on June 30, 2008, the
Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh stated:

“Our vision is to make India’s economic development energy-efficient. Over a period
of time, we must pioneer a graduated shift from economic activity based on fossil
fuels to one based on non-fossil fuels and from reliance on non-renewable and
depleting sources of energy to renewable sources of energy. In this strategy, the sun
occupies centre-stage, as it should, being literally the original source of all energy.
We will pool our scientific, technical and managerial talents, with sufficient financial
resources, to develop solar energy as a source of abundant energy to power our
economy and to transform the lives of our people. Our success in this endeavour will
change the face of India. It would also enable India to help change the destinies of
people around the world.”